FISHING REPORTS

JIM MATTHEWS - Outdoor News Service

The fish report is weekly. Its accuracy depends on marina
operators, tackle shops and local fishermen we contact. Anglers
catching large fish should send the information to Outdoor News
Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427, or telephone
(909) 887-3444, so it can be included in this report. Faxes can be
sent to (909) 887-8180.

E-mail messages or fishing reports can also be posted to JimMatthews at
Odwriter@earthlink.net
. Thisreport is updated several times a week atwww.calfreshwater.com.

Other complete versions are posted on a number of Web sites each
week, including the Turner's Outdoorsman Web site (www.turners.com)
and Jesse's Hunting and Outdoors Web site www.jesseshunting.com).
The updated report is usually posted by Thursday morning at each of
these sites. The Outdoor News Service Web site is
www.outdoornewsservice.com.

The Cal TIP number, the Department of Fish and Game poacher hot
line, is 1-888-DFG-CALTIP. The DFG Web page is located at
www.dfg.ca.gov.

PICKS OF THE WEEK

1. Diamond Valley Lake has to remain the top pick. While the
bass and trout bites have lulled a little from past weeks, the
bluegill action is still excellent and this spot is a great place
to take the whole family and throw topwater baits for bass early,
troll for trout when it's warm, and anchor up on the west dam and
fish for bluegill to keep the kids happy. The fact that some of the
bluegill are over a pounds keeps dad happy, too. For more
information, contact the DVL marina at (951) 926-7201.

2. Cooling weather in the Sierra and the departure of all the
summer crowds signal the beginning of the best trout fishing of the
year. Crowley Lake has been excellent for fly anglers fishing perch
minnow or damsel nymph imitations along the weed beds. It's a real
opportunity for anglers to catch browns, cutthroats, and big
rainbows on the same day. For news on Crowley, check with the
Troutfitter in Mammoth Lakes at (760) 934-2517 or Sierra Drifters
Guide Service at (760) 935-4250.

3. The striped bass action in the Willow Beach stretch of the
Colorado River has started to break wide open on quality fish over
15-0. Two regulars and both makers of monster, trout-like plugs,
Allan Cole and Jerry Rago, have both been picking away at stripers
from 10 to 22 pounds the past two weeks. With weekly trout plants
at Willow Beach, both of these anglers believe 40-pound stripers
will be caught in the next few weeks as the weather cools. For an
update, contact Willow Beach Resort at (928) 767-4747.

FRESHWATER HOT SPOTS

LARGEMOUTH BASS: The news of an 18.06-pound largemouth from the
Castaic Lake lagoon this past week has bass anglers abuzz. There is
good bass action throughout Southern California as evenings cool
and bass continue to chase shad on the surface in the mornings. Top
bets continue to be Diamond Valley, Castaic, Pyramid, Silverwood,
Perris, Isabella, San Vicente, Piru, and Cachuma. Best action at
all these waters has been on topwater plugs, jerkbaits, or
crankbaits early in the day, and then on live shad, drop-shotted or
Texas-rigged plastic worms, and deep-diving crankbaits once the sun
is up. Diamond Valley anglers have been whacking quality largemouth
from 4-0 to 8-0 more consistently than any other bass water in the
region. A trio of good, urban lake sleeper bites are Irvine Lake,
Laguna Niguel Park Lake, and Santa Ana River Lakes all have bass to
4-0 and better.

TROUT: This is still the deep-water trolling season for Southern
California trout lakes in the valleys and foothills. For anglers
who like trolling leadcore line or using downriggers with small
Needlefish or Kastmaster-type lures, the bite has been good. Top
bets are Diamond Valley, Piru, and Cachuma. Casitas, while still
good, slowed a little this past week. The biggest holdover trout
had been coming from Diamond Valley, with trout topping 4-0 caught
each week, but almost none of the bigger trout were caught this
week. Still, a stringer of 2-0 class fish is still very good. In
the local mountains, Green Valley and Big Bear Lake are both fair
to good after DFG plants this week. In the Eastern Sierra, Crowley
Lake continues good for anglers fishing barbless artificials (a
requirement since Aug. 1) that resemble perch minnows along the
weed beds. Rainbows to 4-0 pretty common on matuka-type flies or
small jigs. Fly anglers fishing midges or damsel imitations are
also having good luck. The East Walker River and the West Walker
River are both good, and there has been generally good action
throughout the Bishop Creek drainage, Rock Creek drainage, the
Mammoth Lakes, and June Lake loop. Most of the streams are at ideal
flows and fishing is excellent.

STRIPED BASS: Willow Beach on the Colorado River has kicked into
gear, producing a number of stripers over the 20-0 mark this past
week, and there continues to be very good action at lakes Mead,
Mohave and Havasu on small 1-8 to 3-0 stripers on anchovies or
other cut baits. In Southern California, Pyramid, Castaic,
Silverwood, and Skinner all have been improving with the cooler
nights. Skinner and Pyramid look to be the first to break wide open
with hot surface bites as the stripers come up to chase shad.
Skinner produced a couple of good catches this week with fish to
13-0, but most in the 2-0 to 4-0 class.

PANFISH: Bluegill are being caught in good numbers from waters
all over the region, with Diamond Valley Lake perhaps the best bet
in the region for bluegill to 1-0 and bigger. Perris has a good
bluegill bite in spite of falling water levels, and Lower Otay in
San Diego County and Lopez Lake on the Central Coast also very good
bets for bluegill and redear.

CATFISH: Along the Colorado River, flathead catfish over 20-0
are now showing each week from Parker Dam to the Mexican border.
Most anglers are using bluegill or goldfish for bait. And the whole
river is good for channel catfish from 1-0 to 4-0, especially at
night. Closer to home, the top bet for a big catfish remains
Hesperia Lake, but cooling evening temperatures have spread the
fish out. Top fish here this week was a 38-0, but two 32-0s were
landed. Irvine Lake, Santa Ana River Lakes, and Corona Lake are all
fair on cats from 2-0 to 4-0, mostly on cut baits, prepared scented
baits, or the marshmallow-meal worm combo.

SAN DIEGO AREA LAKES

BARRETT: Bass action is fair on fish averaging from just under
1-0 to 2-0, but the bite is improving with clearing water. Top
baits are plastic worms, jerkbaits, crankbaits, topwater, or
spinnerbaits. The bluegill bite is pretty good. Last week 50
anglers checked in with 220 bass, 200 bluegill and 13 crappie. The
lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule by
reservation only. Reservations are available through Ticket Master
at (619) 220-8497, or go to www.TicketMaster.com. For more
information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619)
465-3474 or log on to the Web site at
www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.

HODGES: Fishing is slow with 115 anglers checking in with 35
bass, 17 channel cats, nine bluegill and eight crappie. Hodges is
open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays for fishing and boating.
For more information, contact the City Lakes information line at
(619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at
www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.

EL CAPITAN: Fair bass action and spotty catfish action. Last
week there were 129 anglers who checked in 81 bass, 15 channel cats
and two blue cats. The lake is open on a Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday schedule. For more information, contact the City Lakes
information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at
www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. For rental boat reservations, call
(619) 668-3274.

LOWER OTAY: Still a good bite on the bluegill with a fair number
of crappie. Bass are spotty, with mostly small fish showing. Last
week, there were 418 anglers who reported 1,175 bluegill, 130
crappie, 73 bass, 34 catfish and 20 redear. Top fish was a 24
1/2-pound blue catfish landed by Michael Williams, San Diego, on
mackerel. The lake is open on a Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday
schedule. For information, contact the City Lakes information line
at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at
www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. For rental boat reservations, call
(619) 668-3274.

UPPER OTAY: Bass fishing was fair with 16 anglers catching and
releasing 10 largemouth. For information, contact the City Lakes
information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at
www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.

SAN VICENTE: Largemouth bass fishing is good on topwater plugs,
reaction baits, and plastics. David Kuenzel, Lakeside, landed a
7.4-pound largemouth on a shiner. Eric Peterson, San Diego, caught
a 4.4-pounder bass, also on a shiner, while George Nichols and Mike
Ames, both Lakeside, caught and released 10 largemouth bass that
weighed 14.15 pounds, including a 3.85-pounder, all on plastics.
The panfish bite is fair to good, too, and catfish are pretty fair.
In all, 142 anglers reported 428 bass, 140 bluegill, 26 redear, and
26 channel cats. For more information call the City Lakes
information line at (619) 465- 3474 or log on to the web site at
www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. For rental boat reservations, call
(619) 668-3274.

MURRAY: Bass fishing is fair on plastic worms, topwater plugs,
or reaction baits. Bluegill fishing is spotty. Last week, 188
anglers reported 135 bass and 21 bluegill. The lake is open for
shore fishing seven days a week from sun up to sun down. For more
information contact the City Lakes information line at (619)
465-3474 or log on to the Web site at
www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. For rental boat reservations, call
(619) 390-0223.

MIRAMAR: Spotty overall action with just a smattering of bass,
bluegill and catfish being caught. This past week, 83 anglers
reported catching just 27 bass, 18 cats, and 10 bluegill. Gary
Wells, Ocean Beach, caught a 7.3-pound bass, while Sam Parra, Chula
Vista, landed a 21.1-pound cat. The lake is open from Saturday to
Tuesday each week. For more information, contact the City Lakes
information line at (619) 465-3474 or log on to the Web site at
www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/. For rental boat reservations, call
(619) 390-0223.

SUTHERLAND: There is a fair bluegill bite, along with a mixed
bag of bass, catfish, crappie, and redear. In all, 103 anglers
reported 190 bluegill, 19 bass, 13 catfish, nine crappie, and three
redear. The lake is open on a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
schedule. Reports are that water levels are low at this time. For
more information, contact the City Lakes information line at (619)
465-3474 or log on to the Web site at
www.ci.san-diego.ca.us/water/.

WOHLFORD: Bass fishing continues to be fair on plastics,
crankbaits, or topwater plugs. Most fish are averaging 1-0 to 3-0.
Catfish from 2-0 to 4-0, along with the odd fish over 10-0, have
been showing in a fair bite on mackerel or shrimp near the buoy
line. For more information, contact the ranger station at (760)
839-4346 or log on to the lake's Web site at
www.wohlfordlake.com.

DOANE POND: DFG trout plant last week.

DIXON: The last catfish plant of the season went in two weeks
ago and there has been spotty fishing this week. Bass action has
been slow, but a good number of bluegill are showing around
cattails and in Catfish Cove on mealworms or pieces of night
crawler. Trout season is tentatively set to begin around Nov. 1.
Fishing reports are on the Internet at: www.dixonlake.com. For more
information, contact the ranger station at (760) 839-4345 or the
concessionaire at (760) 741-3328.

POWAY: Good catfish action along the log boom, north shore and
fishing float. Top fish was a 10-12 caught by Jeff Kopischke, Chula
Vista, on mackerel at the log boom. The bluegill bite is very good
in Hidden Bay and near the Fishing Float. The last catfish plant of
the season went in Tuesday this week, and the last night fishing
day is this Saturday. For the DFG's Free Fishing Day, Saturday, 24
September, adult permits will be $2 and youth 15 and under free.
Motor boats will be $12 and rowboats will be $7. No state fishing
license is required that day. For more fishing information, call
the snack bar at (858) 679-5465, the Poway information line at
(858) 668-4770, or concessions at (858) 486-1234.

JENNINGS: Bass fishing is fair on plastics and reaction baits.
Catfish action continues to be fair for anglers fly-lining cut
baits. The lake is open on a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule.
For more information, call (619) 596-1396 or (619) 667-6293.

MORENA: Bluegill fishing is fair on fish to 1-0 with mealworms
or crickets best. Catfish to 4-0 have been landed on chicken liver,
night crawlers or mackerel. The 24-hour fishing update line is
(619) 478-5473. For lake information, call (619) 694-3049.

CUYAMACA: Trout action continues to be good after another
2,000-pound plant of Whitewater trout this past week. There is also
still a good dry fly bite very early in the morning at the dam.
Small bullhead and crappie are excellent. The Fishing in the Pines
Kid's Derby is Sept. 24. For more information call (760) 765-0515
or visit the Web site at www.lakecuyamaca.org.

HENSHAW: Catfish action is fair on night crawlers or mackerel
with most fish to 2-0. Crappie fishing has been slow to fair on
live minnows or mini-jigs fished under a bobber, and there have
been a fair number of small bass being caught. For more
information, call (760) 782-3501.

TROUT PLANTS

Barring adverse weather, water or road conditions, the following
lakes and streams, listed by county, will be restocked this week
with catchable-size rainbow trout from the Department of Fish and
Game hatcheries:

TUNA: The huge number of yellowfin tuna off the Baja coast have
scattered into much smaller schools and spread throughout the
offshore zone. Sport boat skippers are blaming a fleet of super
seiners that moved in and wrapped up tons of the yellowfin.
"Saturday last week five purse seiners with helicopters showed up
20 miles off Point San Quintin in Baja Mexico. By Monday, our count
was one or two yellowfin per boat, and as of Sunday, this week,
nada. We can only hope for another school of tuna to show," said
Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas Sportfishing in San Quintin, Baja
Mexico. The seiners normally work bigger fish far to the south, but
they have been in the Ensenada region twice this year, slowing the
local sportfishing. Obviously, the big boats don't get all the
tuna, and there has still been sporadic flurries of action for
skippers who find a school of fish, usually on a floating kelp
paddy or beneath a school or porpoise. The Sea Adventure out of
H&M Landing in San Diego went out on a two-day trip with 21
anglers who landed 174 yellowfin tuna and 42 dorado. There are
yellowfin in the Catalina Channel in decent numbers, but these fish
are feeding on small baits and getting more than a fish or two per
boat has been difficult. By far the best tuna action right now is
for albacore out of Morro Bay, but this is when the wind doesn't
blow you off the water. The wind did come up on Sunday making the
fishing come to a complete stop at Morro. The longfins have been as
close as 23 miles off Morro Rock, and the Morro Bay boats have been
getting into some good action. On Saturday, before the wind, the
Princess had 62 slug albacore from 30 to 45 pounds for 15
anglers.

MARLIN: The marlin fishing has been excellent. Even with all of
the boat pressure over the holiday weekend, the fish are still
biting. Skipper Larry Phoenix of the boat Rampage said on Friday
the volume is the most he's ever seen in this region and he's been
fishing these waters over 30 years. The best areas are the 181, 183
and 43 banks just off San Clemente and some fish have slipped up
behind Catalina this week. These are all spawning groups of two,
three and four fish, and catch-and-release is encouraged. Most of
the marlin are 120 to 150 pounds.

YELLOWTAIL: The best spot for yellowtail is still Catalina
Island, if you can avoid the boat pressure. But even this holiday
weekend saw some decent action. For example, the Premier out of
Pierpoint Landing had 39 people Sunday who landed seven yellowtail.
Certainly not wide open fishing, but when part of the mixed bag
action — which includes sheephead, calico bass, barracuda, and a
lot of bonito — it's worth the trip. San Clemente still has a good
volume of yellowtail, but they are still just not biting.

BONITO: Catalina Island has had a very good bite on bonito from
1-0 to 5-0 with a most of the fish in the 2-0 to 3-0 range. The
bonito have been salvaging yellowtail and bass trips to the island
that otherwise would have been mediocre.

SAND BASS: The sand bass all but dropped out of the local
fishing scene. There are still late-spawning fish being caught on
twilight boats in the Santa Monica to Newport region, and the
Channel Island boats are still seeing a fair bite on these fish.
Most boat skippers are going after the plentiful rockfish in this
region now rather than picking away at sand bass.

WAHOO: The oddball report of the week has been consistent
reports of wahoo just 60 miles south of San Diego. The 'hoos are
showing in a patch of warm water but few are being landed because
most guys aren't bringing wire leaders on trips to this region.
There was even a blue marlin hooked in this same area. It ate a
hooked yellowfin tuna and spooled the angler.